Purchase guide for automatic watches up to 1,500 euros

Can you remember your first kiss? For many watch enthusiasts, the memory of this moment is as intense as that day when they first understood the operating principle of an automatic watch and a passion for life was ignited. “Almost like a perpetual motion machine,” we thought to ourselves. The good news is that great automatic watches don’t have to cost a fortune, and up to 1500 euros they open up a fascinating selection that will enthrall beginners and the experienced alike.

Manufacturer: Who offers the most for the money?

Finding a high-quality automatic watch for up to 1,500 euros is not an art – after all, there is already a considerable selection of recommendable self-winding timepieces below the 500-euro mark. But the sheer number of watch brands makes the decision difficult: Alongside established names, young companies are sprouting up like mushrooms and showing a strong presence on Instagram, Facebook and the like. However, if you want to wear a watch “for life” with consistent quality and from a renowned company, it’s better to look to the classic manufacturers from Germany and Switzerland.

Up to 1500 euros, three places are of central importance in this country: Schramberg with the Junghans company, Frankfurt am Main with Sinn Spezialuhren, and legendary Glashütte, where the Nomos, MÜHLE Glashütte, and Union Glashütte brands in particular score with outstanding value for money. In Switzerland, the landscape is more complex and dominated by one player: The Swatch Group. Above 1000 euros, the Group brands Longines, MIDO and Rado in particular are worth a look, while Tissot, Hamilton and Certina dominate in the three-digit range. Among the independents, we recommend Oris and Frederique Constant in particular for an automatic watch up to 1500 euros.

Automatic movement: important facts for every owner

In the given price spectrum, independently developed and produced movements (“manufacture movements”) are the exception. To make the enormous complexity of an automatic movement affordable, most watch brands buy their calibers from the large movement companies ETA or Sellita (recognizable by the “SW” in the caliber name). There, the mechanics are mass-produced by machine, but offer maximum reliability due to their decades of market maturity. When buying, the following characteristics should be taken into account:

1. Power reserve: The standard is about 38 hours, but more and more watches are equipped with a derivative of the ETA C07.111 including 80 hours endurance. As soon as you read “80 hours of power reserve,” this movement is probably in play. In the chronograph world, the ETA/Valjoux 7750 is the most common, with its approximately 48-hour power reserve.
2. Complications: Popular additional functions are the day of the week and date, but power reserve indicators, automatic chronographs, moon phases and GMT indicators can also be purchased for up to 1500 euros (new).
3. Visible mechanics: A glass watch back is a great feature for enthusiasts to observe their automatic movement. Skeletonized models, which already offer glimpses of the interior through the dial, are also aesthetic highlights.

Specific recommendations: From sport to elegance

After the most important basics of the automatic movement have been established, the decision about the watch design is made. To simplify matters, we categorize our recommendations into three groups: “Pilot/Sport”, “Diver’s Watches” and “Elegance/Ladies”. Please note that the listed watches are only a small selection from the assortments of the respective brands; a browse through the product portfolios brings many more top models to light.

Pilot/Sport

An iconic automatic watch up to 1500 euros is the Oris Big Crown Pointer Date: Its large pilot’s crown, the brand-typical hand date and incredible elegance make the 36-millimeter slim unisex watch a perennial favorite of our editorial team. The Sinn 105 St Sa W offers more “hardcore”: despite its conception as a pilot’s watch, the engineering masterpiece from Frankfurt offers a whopping 200 meters of water resistance, inspires with extreme functionality in its design and would be our first choice if we had to wear a watch for the rest of our lives. Functionality is also a top priority at MÜHLE Glashütte, a producer of nautical instruments: the MÜHLE Glashütte 29er Big is powerful, robust and extremely legible, which explains its enormous popularity among purists.

Diver watches

If top water resistance up to 1500 euros is a priority, the Longines HydroConquest Automatic 41 mm is a solid choice: Not only 300 meters of depth, but also an extended power reserve of 64 hours (compared to the ETA base movement) and the emphatically edgy, masculine style turn the Swiss watch into a great overall package. Even more indestructible is its corporate sister from MIDO: the Ocean Star 600 Chronometer withstands a whopping 600 meters of water depth, pairs it with the aforementioned 80-hour power reserve, and measures a whopping 43.5 millimeters.

Elegance/Ladies

The Junghans Meister Gangreserve is pure beauty in watch form: curved, timeless, and in a limited edition, the Black Forest instrument with probably the most elegant power reserve display of all time rests on the wrist – it is a simple bar that indicates the remaining power. In contrast, the Rado True Automatic, made entirely of ceramic, proves that an automatic watch up to 1500 euros can also be a real highlight in terms of material. With a mysterious black shimmer on the outside and an 80-hour power reserve on the inside, it’s a high-flyer in its price class.

In the ladies’ world, the Union Glashütte Sirona is our diva: while brilliant-cut diamonds and a sunburst finish make the dial a noble eye-catcher, the automatic movement performs its work in a case that is only 32 millimeters slim and solemnly polished. More modern and fresh from the watch metropolis of Geneva is the Frederique Constant Highlife Ladies Automatic, whose integrated case is right on trend and looks just as harmonious on a stainless steel bracelet as it does with a robust rubber version.

Used watches: Luxury brands at a small price?

“Why mid-range when pre-owned luxury is just as affordable?” Rightly, many watch lovers are excited by the idea of being able to buy a Rolex, Breitling or Omega in good condition for up to 1500 euros. And we would like to confirm right away that this goal is achievable (except for Rolex). Be sure to check the seriousness of the dealer, buy preferably in German-speaking countries to be on the safe side and pay attention to the original papers of the timepiece to be able to trace its history. Apart from the vintage market, the Breitling Colt and older Omega models from the Constellation or Speedmaster collection are among the promising candidates. Long discarded, underrated collections like Breitling’s Antares can also be real bargains with excellent value for money. Luxury up to 1500 euros? A realistic proposition for mindful buyers.